News / Local
Man cries in court as wife demands half of pension
05 Jan 2016 at 06:07hrs | Views
A BULAWAYO man Stephen Ndlovu from Matshobana suburb yesterday broke into tears at the maintenance court after his estranged wife demanded half of his $11,296 pension.
Ndlovu told the court he had been married to Esnath Ndlovu for 38 years and had cared for her in all those years.
According to Ndlovu, it was unfair for Esnath to claim lump sum maintenance.
"I've worked for 38 years and in those years I've cared for my wife. She wants half my pension because she doesn't want to move to the rural areas with me," he told magistrate Adelaide Mbeure.
"Now I live in fear that she'll kill me over my pension. After taking her two children and treating them like my own this is what I get," Ndlovu sobbed.
However, Ndlovu is yet to receive the pension money.
He said he had plans to extend their Matshobana house and build another in the rural areas where he wanted to retire with Esnath.
"I'm an employee at the National Railways of Zimbabwe and we haven't been paid properly since 2014.
"Every cent I get I share it with my family. I've a funeral policy that covers all my family. She's my wife and we were going to use the money together for our benefit instead she wants half my pension for herself," he said.
But Esnath told the court that she wanted $5,648 as lump sum maintenance.
"He doesn't buy plenty groceries and doesn't give me money.
"He only gave me $200 on Christmas and the $100 to our grandchildren. All our children are grown up and we live with our grandchildren," she said.
Esnath said that she did not want to stay in rural areas because she did not get along with her in-laws.
Magistrate Mbeure postponed the matter to January 11 for ruling.
Ndlovu told the court he had been married to Esnath Ndlovu for 38 years and had cared for her in all those years.
According to Ndlovu, it was unfair for Esnath to claim lump sum maintenance.
"I've worked for 38 years and in those years I've cared for my wife. She wants half my pension because she doesn't want to move to the rural areas with me," he told magistrate Adelaide Mbeure.
"Now I live in fear that she'll kill me over my pension. After taking her two children and treating them like my own this is what I get," Ndlovu sobbed.
However, Ndlovu is yet to receive the pension money.
He said he had plans to extend their Matshobana house and build another in the rural areas where he wanted to retire with Esnath.
"Every cent I get I share it with my family. I've a funeral policy that covers all my family. She's my wife and we were going to use the money together for our benefit instead she wants half my pension for herself," he said.
But Esnath told the court that she wanted $5,648 as lump sum maintenance.
"He doesn't buy plenty groceries and doesn't give me money.
"He only gave me $200 on Christmas and the $100 to our grandchildren. All our children are grown up and we live with our grandchildren," she said.
Esnath said that she did not want to stay in rural areas because she did not get along with her in-laws.
Magistrate Mbeure postponed the matter to January 11 for ruling.
Source - chronicle
